Metal-reinforced plastic bowling pin



May 1, 1951 s L. LEONARD, SR

METAL-REINFORCED PLASTIC BOWLING PIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 20,1945 May 1, 1951 s. LEONARD, sR

METAL-REINFORCED PLASTIC BOWLING PIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20,1945 Patented May 1, 1 951 V g 2,551,272 METAL-REINFORCFIJ IENPLASTICBOWLING Summers L. Leonard, Sn, Johnson City, Tenn.,

assignor of one-half to Raymond Herbert Russell, Johnson City, Tenn.

Application November 20, 1945, Serial No. 629,891

2 Claims. 1 This invention is a game piece or pin of the type designedfor use in playing ten pins, duck pins, candle pins, and other similargames. One of the objects of the invention is to provide a pin of thetype mentioned having a body of molded plastic material in lieu of woodwhich is now commonly employed for the manufacture of such devices.

A further object is to provide a molded pin in which the body materialis strongly reenforced without increasing the pin-weight beyond themaximum limit provided by the accepted rules of the game, so that thepin will not only resist the shocks of the ball-impact, but at the sametime warping or other distortion of shape of the pin will be prevented.

A further object is to provide a pin designed for the purposes mentionedwhich may be easily and accurately molded in a manner to conformstrictly with the weight and dimensions imposed by the standard rules ofbowling.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating one form ofbowling pin constructed in accordance with the invention, taken on linel-l of Fig. 2.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view illustrating the manner ofconnecting the wings of the reeriforcing core.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the core wings detached.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 illustrating a slightmodification of the latter.

7 Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2 illustrating amodification of means for bracing the wings. w

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a bowling pin illustratinga second modification of the reenforcing core. I

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating another modifiedform.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view on the line 99, Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a modification ofFigure 8.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, P designates abowling pin molded of a suitable plastic material l0, having embeddedtherein a core C. Any desired plastic material or synthetic resin whichis capable of withstanding the shocks incident to being struck by aheavy ball, may be employed. A satisfactory example is cellulosebutyracetate because of its inherent elasticity. I

The core 0 is constructed of a plurality of equally spaced radiallydisposed wing-like members l I, each of which is constructed of rigidflat metal, and connected in suitable manner at their adjacent inneredges at positions I2 which coincide with the longitudinal axis of thepin. The members H may be constructed of any desired metal having therequisite rigidity, but it is preferred to construct them of aluminum oraluminum alloy, so as to keep the weight thereof at a minimum. The inneredges of said members may be joined by welding.

It will be noted that -'the outer edge of each member I I conforms tothe general exterior contour of the completed pin, the inner edge beingstraight, so as to lie parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pinbody. Each member ll is provided with one or more openings therein, asindicated at l3 and M, respectively. The number of said openings mayvary, as may be desired, but in the smaller dimensioned pins the opening[3 will ordinarly not be used. If more than one of such openingsisemployed they are arranged in longitudinally spaced relationship. Theopening [4 is of substantial length and width as compared to thedimensions of the pin body P. It will also be observed that the plasticmaterial In completely encloses and embeds the core members, to

any desired depth, and is provided with an axial portion 15 whichextends through the openings I3 and l4,so as to surround and interlockwith plate may be omitted if desired, and the opening I8 in the plasticmaterial made somewhat deeper. It may also be desirable, in the case ofthe larger types of pins, to reenforce the core member 0. This may bedone by welding or otherwise attaching an annular bracing member H! tothe outer edges of the members I I, as shown in Figures 1 and 2; or byconnecting said edges by means of horizontally disposed braces 20,extending diagonally from one member H to another, as shown in Figure 6.Obviously the bracing elements [9 and 20, may be used conjunctively, oreither or both may be omitted without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

edges of the members H are embedded within a body of plastic materialmembers I l it belongs.

nected by a base plate 16 which is provided with a tubular boss Il toreceive the peg of a,

Embedded axially within the pin-setting device. plastic material HJ is acore of cor-lg orsimilar resilient material indicatedaat 22.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig-. ures 8, 9 and 10, thewing-like members li are 1. A bowling pin of the character described,comprising a molded body of plastic material small at its upper end andrelatively wide at its mid portion, a core member embedded within saidbody, said core member comprising a plurality of radially disposedwing-like members of rigid flat. metal having straight innerlongitudinal edges in substantially abutting relationship in thelongitudinal axis of said body, the outer edges of said members shapedto conform to the external contour 01. said body but located inwardlyfrom the outer surface thereof, substantial portions of said wing-likemembers cut away to propractically the same as those illustrated inFigures 1 and 2. However, in the modifiediorm the inner edges of thesemembers are welded or otherwise secured to a tubular member 30, which isdisposed axially with respect to the pin body. The lower end 3| of saidtube extends to the bottom plate [6 which is welded or otherwise securedto the member 30, as well as to the lower The members ll" lll whichinterlocks with openings 32 in said If desired, the base plate l6 may beprovided with a tubular boss H which is externally threaded at its freeend, as indicated at 33, Figure 10. Saidthreaded boss may be removablyengageable with a complemental threaded portion 34 of the tube 30*.

The advantages of the invention will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art to which For instance, it will be observed that avery simple and inexpensive form of bowling pin is provided, that willconform to the standard weight and dimensions required by the acceptedrules of the game.

It will also be noted that .a molded pin is provided which is stronglybraced against distortion or warping by any cause, and which is soreenforced against shocks due to impact of the ball, as to provide avery durable construction.

It is to be understood that although the invention has been illustratedherein as embodying the contour of the commonly employed tenpin, it isnot limited in this particular, because the contours of the reenforcingcore may be varied to conform to the outside contours of .any other typeof pin, without departing from of its use, what is claimed is:

vide elongated openings in the area of the wider .partssof said pin bodyand inwardly from the inner and outer longitudinal edges of saidmembers, an annular band rigidly connected to the outer edges of saidwing-like members at substantially the mid portion of said body, theplastic material of said body filling said elongated openings andcovering the outer edges of said wing-like members as well as saidannular band to securely anchor said members therein.

2. A bowling pin of the character described, comprising a molded body ofplastic material, a core member embedded within said body, said coremember comprising a plurality of radially disposed wing-like members ofrigid .flat metal having straight inner longitudinal edges insubstantially abutting relationship in the longitudinal axis of saidbody, the outer edges of said members shaped to conform to the externalcontour of said body but located inwardly from the outer surfacethereof, bracing means disposed laterally of said core member andconnecting the outer edges of said wing-like members, substantialportions of said wing-like members cut away to provide elongatedopenings in the area of the wider parts of said pin body and inwardlyfrom the inner and outer longitudinal edges of said members, the plasticmaterial of said body filling said elongated openings and covering saidbracing means and said outer edges of the 'winglike members to securelyanchor said members and bracing means within said body.

SUMMERS .L. LEONARD, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number .Name 'Date 833,882 Le Fevre Oct. .23, 19061,031,700 Fleming July 9, 1912 1,087,927 Deuther Feb. 24, 1914 1,170,339'Romunder Feb. 1, 1916 1,205,278 Skalla Nov. 21, 1916 1,491,279 StewartApr. 22, 1924 1,520,109 .Bishop et al. Dec. .23, 1924 22,064,435Loefiier Dec. 15, 1936 2,202,674 Seaman et al May 28, 1940 2,289,872:Brinkman July .14, 1942

